The Dream World

By Shreya Gupta

Pause, like you heard something unusual;
Yes! Yes! A whistling sound;
But don’t be surprised when you turn around,
And see a girl at your back,
Teasing, calling you with various names.
How would you feel?
Irritated?
Well, she must have been irritated a zillion times
Before pulling this back at you.

Pause, like you saw something unusual.
Yes! Yes! A shadow following you;
But don’t be surprised when you turn around,
And see a girl at your back,
Tracing your footsteps and making sly faces.
How would you feel?
Weird?
Well, she must have been followed a zillion times,
Before pulling this back at you.

Pause, like you smelled something unusual.
Yes! Yes! Cigarettes and cheap alcohol;
But don’t be surprised when you turn around,
And see a group of girls at your back,
Mocking your walking style.
How would you feel?
Inconvenient?
Well, they must have felt so a zillion times,
Before pulling this back at you.

Pause, like you felt something unusual.
Yes! Yes! A strong gaze at you on a moving bus;
But don’t be surprised when you look up,
And see a girl standing right over your head,
Staring directly at your imperfect assets.
How would you feel?
Disgusted?
Well, she must have felt so a zillion times,
Before pulling this back at you.

Pause, like you sensed something unusual.
Yes! Yes! It’s nothing more than a mere hug;
But don’t be surprised when you find
Your old aunt’s hands
Hovering all over your back.
How would you feel?
Uncomfortable?
Well, she must have felt so a zillion times,
Before pulling this back at you.

And as you wake up,
All drenched in sweat:
Your heart will refuse to believe
That this dream can ever be a reality.
Do you know why?
For her name has always been associated
With kindness, love and shame,
Unlike,
Honestly, some of you.

About the Author:

Shreya Gupta is a published writer and poet pursuing her graduation in Media Science. She has contributed as an editor for 4 anthologies. She has been an active participant in many story writing competitions and has been awarded by delegates like Javed Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar. Her prime interest is in creating art which not only touches the youth, but increases the love for literature in them.

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StarWords India’s Creator

Shreya Dutta is the Founder & Creative Head of StarWords India. This platform helps young talents to get published internationally. She is also the author of "Dance in the Rain".
Years ago, when little girls were jotting down their bucket list, Shreya was lost in her dreamland in which she was immortal.
Shreya Dutta had started off writing at an early age because she believed that writing not only helped her to voice her opinion but also led her closer to immortality. With every write-up that gets published, Shreya believes that she gets embedded in the pages of history to inspire the youngsters who dream likewise. Writing is not just her passion; it is her way of taking the road less travelled.

Contest – 2

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Melodies of Spring: First Look

Melodies of Spring is a poetry compilation. This book is comprised of poems of different genres contributed by the contestants shortlisted after the completion of Contest 1. The book is scheduled to be published soon.